"No, it didn't seem fair and a lot of the fans weren't too happy about it either. It was really hard to take because Dons were my local team and I really enjoyed my time there. The board went for a change of direction. Three of us were told we were being kept on then informed on the last day of the season we were being freed. It was the lowest point of my career, but it definitely helped me mentally. "It made me realise you can't take anything for granted. I thought I'd be there for another year, staking a claim for a place in the first team - then I was released. "Things can change from one day to the next. I went on trial with a couple of English clubs but was only 18 and they wanted the finished article, players ready to step in to the first team. It was difficult to get a club but thankfully the chance arose at Kilmarnock. I've worked hard in the last three years to get to this position. I don't like to dwell on the past but moving up here has definitely been for the best."
On Being Part of the Scotland U-21 Squad... "If you play for Scotland you have a family connection. My parents are Scottish and that's where my loyalties lie. I was up here as a kid a couple of times a year. I would always have played for Scotland. All my family are Scottish - my aunts and uncles still live here, so I could never have played for England. I don't think I would have been allowed north of the border if I had!  There are some fantastic boys in Scotland as well but you need to play to your strengths.  Our management staff of Billy Stark and Jim Fleeting drill it in to us that we have a good squad of players. Just consider the players who haven't even made the squad. It's really difficult to get a place in our team. We took massive confidence from our victory in Holland. The squad and management are convinced we can make the finals. We are still a long way off it as we are only halfway through the qualification process and there is also the possibility of a play-off. It's going to be pretty difficult but we're feeling confident."

Aug 13th on Killie's Stat to the Season..."I don't think anybody is feeling that sort of pressure at the moment, it's the early stages of the season. We've not had an easy run of fixtures. At the end of last season we had the top six teams and then Dundee United and Motherwell, who are two teams who will be looking to get into the top six, so there are no easy fixtures. We have had good performances so far this season. Maybe the results didn't go with the performances. We have started the season well and we are still unbeaten, that's one way to look at it. We've only conceded one goal in the two games. Defensively we look strong, if we can get a few more goals. We look strong and if we can build on that the results will come. We've had pre-season games where we've won, it's just the competitive games that we haven't won yet. The performances have been good, even at the end of last season when it was tough games. There were a lot of games where we should have got wins. Everybody will be trying their hardest against Hibs this weekend and the squad is more than confident that we can get a win. A lot of players have moved on and that's credit to them because they did well last season and they earned themselves the moves to big clubs. We have replaced quality with quality this season with players like Gary Harkins and Paul Heffernan so I'm confident that we can have just as successful a season this season, if not better."
On His Scotland Under-21 Debut..."I still have the Scotland jersey at home but I will give it to my dad who will probably frame it and keep it at his house. He will be proud of that one. I really enjoyed the game. I was hoping to get in the side last time against Belgium but I was ill which that wasn't the best of circumstances. So on Wednesday I was really pleased to get my first Under-21 cap and it was a fantastic result for us, too. The family came up for the game along with my uncle so with all of them being Scottish they were proud to be there. The qualifying starts next month so I will be available for the entire campaign. We have a tough group with the likes of Holland and Austria in it so we know it won't be easy. I would love a shot at the European Championship but it is a pretty strong squad so there is a lot of competition for places. It is going to be hard to hold down a place for the entire qualifying campaign."

Aug 8th 2011 on Playing Blackburn Rovs..."It was better than any training session. Facing Dunn was a great test. You pick things up when you watch Premiership players and, obviously, Dunn is very experienced. It was tough to play against him and N'Zonzi. You see things during a game you wouldn't see on the TV, such as their movement off the ball and their workrate."

Dec 17th 2010....Midfielder Kelly has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal after establishing himself as an integral part of Paatelainen's team.

The 20-year-old former MK Dons midfielder has scored two goals this season during an impressive start to the season for Paatelainen's men.

Kelly said: "I'm delighted. As soon as he came to me about extending the contract, I was more than happy to do so.

"Hopefully over the next two-and-a-half years we will take the club forward and I will improve as a player."

Kelly failed to make the first-team breakthrough under Jim Jefferies but he was instantly promoted when Jimmy Calderwood took over in January.

"I was over the moon to get my break under Jimmy Calderwood and I feel this season I have pushed on," he said. "I want to push on again in 2011.

"A year ago I was just signing a six-month deal so things have changed a lot in that space of time. I'm happy at the club and everything is going great."

Paatelainen has predicted a bright future for Kelly as he himself plans for the coming months and years at Rugby Park.

"We're happy he has signed because he's a young, talented player who works very hard," the Finn said.

"He is a model professional and has every chance in the game. He is a hard-working box-to-box midfielder who can score goals and is good at defending.
 

Dec 18th After His 2 Goal Hibs Outing Kelly said... "This club is going places - that's why I want to stay. We are playing good football and getting good results. We were always confident even at the start of the season when people were tipping us to go down.We play football the right way and it is fantastic. I was delighted to sign my new contract. When Mixu Paatelainen asked me to extend my deal I was delighted as it makes you feel wanted and part of the club. After two goals against Hibs, things could not have gone any better. I want to score more. I like to get in the box and I work on that in training so obviously it is paying off."